Ive owned my Tribute for about a year now. In the last 3 weeks, it seems as if my gas mileage has started to drop. Im getting 15-16 mpg, from a 30 mile round trip commute to work. (Half city, half highway)....There doesnt seem to be any problems with the truck. (I was a service manager for years, I know what to loook for.) Is anybody else getting mileage like this?

 

As a service writer did you check air or fuel filter plus you might be getting winterized gas in your area?... just a thought

 

Air filter is clean. Nothing suggests a plugged fuel filter. (This truck has NO lack of power) No soot from the tailpipe, and there are no leaks evident.

Winter gas? How much can winter gas effect mileage? 1, maybe 3 mpg?

 

I have never gotten all that great MPG out of my Tribute. (2.3L 4 cylinder, manual) I was hoping for mid 20s since the EPA estimate said something like 22 city 27 highway but I can't even get 22 on the highway. The lowest I saw was 17 on a mostly city tank. I may mention it next time I take it in for service and see if they find anything.

 

For winter driving conditions....this is normal milage"Mazda says during the cold seasons expect a decrease of fuel up to 30% ...i hear the same questions daily and unfortunatly thats just how that vehicle is.


However ,you may want to have a diagnostic done at your local dealer...there could be a fuel pump/sending unit concern.


Is the MIL light on? (malunfuntion indicator light)

 

NO service indicator lights of any type are on. I begrudgingly took it to the dealership today and they also blamed it on winter gas. I guess all I can do at this point is watch it until the weather gets better. As far as taking it to a dealer for diagnostics, ee only have ONE Mazda dealer within 60 miles of my house and they know they are the only game in town. Its a shame, but the service department is slow, inept and arrogant. I will avoid them until I have ruled out ALL other possibilities.

 

Try autozone if there is one in your area they do diagnostic checks for free even if no light is on for free might as well try it out?

 

I have the 4 cylinder with an automatic. I have to really baby it to get 20-21 mpg. MPG would be my biggest complaint

 

I have an 05 4cyl tribute. I get about 22 to 24 on the highway and about 18 in the city. That would be the biggest complaint I have about the tribute and I would have got the 6cyl if I would have known it would be this bad. I suggest you get a K&N air filter. That should help and in your case, anything will help.
-Josh

 

My 2002 4WD V6 gets about 20 mpg on the hwy and almost 19 locally. My 97 Taurus is getting 23 hwy.